Sealing strip guide for can opening keys



Allg 14, 1956 H. B. MlLLHoUsE SEALING STRIP GUIDE FOR CAN OPENING KEYS Filed April 26, 1954 F ig. 4

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IIIIIHUHHIIIM MINI 0 3 a IIN y 3 a, 5 3 8 u 5 wil 3 2 6 032 \3.IM IIII. 3 4.3/ IH M Y H .IIWII Il? 9 53 .ma F WII: IYJ 3/ Hl 0 8 5 .rl 6 2 l M United States Patent 2,758,745 Patented Aug. 1'4, 1956 SEALING STRIP GUIDE FOR CAN 'OPENING Harry B. Millhouse, VSpring Valley, Calif.

Applieation April 26, 1954-, serial No. 425,481 2 IClaims. (Cl. 22052) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers for use in the removal of metal tear or sealing strips from vacuum sealed cans or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a guide for the sealing strip in which the key is rotatably supported to wind the strip in a coil on the key as it is removed from the can and to maintain the strip in its coiled position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide constructed with an expansible strip winding recess to accommodate strips of different widths.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is ecient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on a line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 3 3 of Figure 2;

lFigure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modied construction;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line t 5 5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view thereof. Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a y U-shaped guide composed of spaced parallel upper and lower arms 6 and 7 united at one end by a vertical connecting portion 8.

A divider 9, preferably constructed of a resilient strip of material is formed with a return bend at one end to provide a ilange which underlies the divider and is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the lowermost arm 7 to support the divider between the arms 6 and 7 and in spaced parallel relation with respect to both of the arms. The other end of the divider 9 is free and denes an adjustable or expansible recess 11 in the guide between the uppermost arm 6 and the divider to vary the height of the recess.

The arms 6 and 7 and the divider 9 are formed with aligned openings 13, 14 and 15 respectively, to rotatably receive a key 16 having a slot 17 in its lower end positioned in the recess 11.

The outer end portion of arm 6 is formed with an extension 18 which is bent into inverted U-shape on top of arm 6 to form a housing 19 for a coil spring 20 which surrounds the key 16 and a washer is suitably secured to the key under the spring 20. The key is rotatable 'and vertically slidable in an opening 22 in the top of housing 19.

In operation of the device the end of a metal can seal'- ihg strip (not shown) is inserted in the slot 17 of key 16 in the recess 11 of the guide. The key is then turned to wind the strip thereon and the divider 9 and arm 6 of the guide maintain the strip coiled as the strip is' removed from the can. The divider 9 flexes to expand the recess 11 to accommodate strips of various widths.

Aft-er' the strip has been completely Wanne on the key the latter is raised whereupon the coiled strip will be removed from the key and also removed from the guide.

In the modied construction illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the U-shaped guide 23 includes upper and lower arms 24 and 25 and a connecting vertical portion 26, the arms being formed with aligned openings 27 and 28 in which the slotted key 29 is rotatably and slidably positioned. A second U-shaped guide member 30 also includes upper and lower arms 31 and 32 and a connecting vertical portion 33 and the arms 31 and 32 respectively overlie the arms 24 and 25 of the guide member 23, and arms 31 and 32 are also formed with openings 34 and 35 respectively to rotatably and slidably receive the key.

Guide member 30 forms a housing for a coil spring 36 which surrounds the key and is held under tension between upper arm 24 of guide member 23 and a washer 37 suitably secured on the key resting on top of lower arm 32 of guide member 30 to urge the key as well as the guide member 30 downwardly. Upper arm 31 of guide member 30 engaging upper arm 24 of guide member 23 limits downward movement of the former to space the lower arm 32 above lower arm 25 to form a recess 38 between said lower arms.

The free end portion of lower arm 32 is formed with a T-shaped slide 39 which is slidably locked in a vertical slot 40 of the vertical portion 26 of guide member 23.

In this construction the tear or sealing strip (not shown) is engaged in the slot of key 29 and wound upon the key in the recess 38. Guide members 23 and 30 are free to slide vertically independently of each other to expand the recess 38 to accommodate tear strips of various widths.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A strip guide in combination with a strip winding key having a slotted stem comprising a U-shaped member including a bight portion having spaced generally parallel arms extending therefrom, said arms having aligned openings therein rotatably receiving the stem of the key therein for disposition of the stem slot therebetween, a guide element disposed between and parallel to said arms and having an aperture aligned with said arm openings for passage of the key stem therethrough, and resilient means biasing said guide element toward one of said arms to adjust to the width of a strip to be received through the key slot and be wound on the key stem, said bight portion having a longitudinal slot therein, said guide element being slidably mounted in said slot and having a normal lifting portion extending through said slot for manipulating the guide element in opposition to the action of the resilient means.

2. A strip guide for utilization with a metal sealing avisame 3 strip winding key having a slotted stem comprising a pair of U-shaped guide members each including a bight p0rtion having spaced generally parallel arms extending from the end edges thereof, said U-shaped members being disposed in facing relation to one another, the arms of one lmember being disposed generally parallel to the arms of the other member, the arms of both members being disposed in staggered overlapping relation to one another and having aligned apertures therein for the passage of a key stem therethrough, resilient means reacting between the arm of said one member received between the arms of said other member and one arm of said other member to normally urge the arms of the member toward abutment with one another, the bight portion of said other member having a longitudinal slot therein, the arm of said one member received between the arms of said other member having a portion projecting through said slot and slidably locked therein for manual manipulation of said other member in opposition to said resilient means.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,348,242 Ross Aug. 3, 1920 1,942,869 McMaster Jan. 9, 1934 2,370,081 Sebell Feb. 20, 1945 2,572,820 Schluter Oct. 23, 1951 2,649,990 lLyle Aug. 25, 1953 2,660,331 Inman Nov. 24, 1953 

